Cartridge with amorphous explosive shell and charge



(No Mdem M H, MAXIM. CARTRIDGE WITH A MORPHOUS BXPLOSIVB SHELL AND CHARGE,

No. 504,736. Patented sept.' 12, 1893.

'Hulman raras Arun raton.-

HUDSON MAXIM, OF PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS,

CARTRIDGE WITH AMORPHOUS EXPLOSIVE SHEli. AND CHARGE. v

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 504,736, dated September 12, 1893.

pplication filed August 31,1889. Serial No.322,553. (Eo model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, HUDSON MAXIM, residing at Pittsfield, in the county of Berkshire and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cartridges, or" which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to cartridges for lirearms.

The object of my invention is to generally improve cartridges, and specially lo inclose the main explosive charge .or charges in a coating, coatings, or casing of a solid colloidal explosive material., such as an amorphous explosive nitro-cellulosecompound of gun cotton and nitro-glycerin@ and to inclose the shot charge in a similar casing when desirable. Ey the use of this amorphous explosive colloid, the usual metal or paper casing of the cartridges is dispensed with and its place taken by an explosive material which not only adds to the explosive charge of the cartridge but, owing to if, -i peculiar solid amorphous character is selfsustaining and is capablo of carrying other explosive compounds, materials and shot, as is necessary for use in cartridges. 'This amorphous explosive colloid also serves as a means `for providing 'an accelerating propelling charge by reason of its slowness in exploding in comparison with a granular powder on account of the reduced burning surface that is exposed to the flame of ignition. y

ln the drawingsz--Figures l, 2, 3 and are central longitudinal sections of shot cartridges, provided with the invention, as Will he hereinafter described.

lt is to be remarked in passing, that the proportion of the parts as indicated in the drawings is exaggerated, it being understood that the explosive casing of a, solid colloidall c material may be a thin film or may have considerable thickness as may be found desirable under different circumstances.

Referring to the drawings it 's to be understood that the improved cartridge is carried by or contained within a metallic shell A, which, as in Figs. l, 2 and a, may bea mere base cup, or, as in Fig. 3 may be of cylindricai form, suiicient'ly long to embrace the greater portion or the whole of the cartridge.

irrespective of the metallic cup or cylinder A' the cartridge consists of an exterior casing formed of an amorphous or non-crystalline explosive colloidal composition, which amorphous explosive is adapted to contain acharge or charges of an explosive propelling material and also a shot charge arranged in ad- Vance of the propelling charge as is customary.

The amorphous explosive colloidal compound is formed in the main of gun cotton or of gun cotton and nitro-glycerin'e, which becomes thoroughly gelat-inized or a more or less plastic mass, and after certain volatile solvents are evaporated out becomes a solid explosive mass which is peculiarly amorphous, dense and horn-like.

Referring to Fig. l, the amorphous explosive casing is in the form of'a tube B, long enough to embrace and contain one or more separate propelling charges' as C, C and C2, and also a shot charge D. In this form of the structure, the propelling charge or charges are contained by a box, casing 'or capsule, composed of 4this colloidal explosive ,l

tained Within the other as is usual with capsules so as tocontain and entirely surround the main body of the propelling charge, which, in the present instance is composed of the amorphous explosive material. The different charges C, C', and C2 are otvarying size and are provided with a central recess to increase the surface of the propelling charge that may be attacked by the flame of combustion. Asmall igniting charge c4 preferably of gun cotton, is placed opposite the base of the capsule shown as containing the charge C which base is perforated or made very thin at the front c5 opposite the lprimer in the shell A. The propelling charge section C thus consists of a body of the colloidal nitro-cellulose or similar amorphous explosi've and a small igniting 'chargeinclosed IOG may be effected. The shot charge D is incasedor inclosed in a thin film d of the amorphous explosive material.

In Fig. 2, the tube B is made to join with the tube B2 to form a containing covering for the general smokeless powder charge E. The shot charge D is inclosed in cups d and d2 forming a capsule. rIhe dividing partition B3 may be a mere wad, or may be integral with the tube B2, but all the charge inclosing is contained in a capsule of the explosive` nitro-compound, composed of cup c2 and inclosed base cup c', and this explosive charge is inclosed with shot charge D and wad K in the colloidal nitro-cellulose cover or tube B4. It will thus be seen that the entire charge ot' the cartridge, except the projectile and gas check, may be made explosive, and combustion of sections of the charge may be accelerated or delayed. The nitro-compound may be easy or difficult of ignition by varying the quantity of nitro-glycerine used, or by making the gun cotton of a higher grade of nitration. The material is non-explosive except under high temperature and pressure, will not detonate, and is substantially Waterproof.

The charge secti'ins and cases may be made and sold separatelyA as is done with shot can.

tridges ot' usual construction.

I am aware that it has been proposed heretofore to employa celluloid casing or collodion film as a surrounding medium for a cartridge charge, but such'casing or film was simply a waterproof combustible covering, capable of ignition and substantially entirely consumed.

My amorphous explosive compound difters therefrom in that it is itself an explosive; that is to say, it is an amorphous material, containing oxygen,z for the support of its own combustion, while thev combustible materials 1. The herein described. cartridge charge'. conslsting of an exterior envelope or casing' formed of an amorphous explosive compound, and an interior explosive, the explosive envelope forming an explosive addition to said interior explosive.

2. The herein described cartridge charge consisting of an exterior envelope or casing` formed of an amorphous explosive compound, and an interior explosive of a diiterent explosive quality from the envelope, the explosive envelope forming an explosive addition to said interior explosive whereby an accel. erating explosive action'is enected.

3. The herein described cartridge formed ot' an envelope or casing composed of an amorphous explosive compound, a contained propelling explosive charge and a projectile, the explosive envelope forming an explosive addition to the contained charge.

4. The herein described cartridge charge consisting of a capsule creasing formed of an amorphous explosive compound, a contained explosive charge, and also an igniting charge.

5. In a cartridge', the combination with the primer of an explosive capsule formed ot' an amorphous explosive compound arranged adjacent to the primer, and a contained igniting charge, substantially as described.

6. In a cartridge the combination of the exterior explosive envelope vformed of an amorphous explosive compound, an interior.

explosive contained within vthe envelope, and

a metallic shell or cup carrying the envelope, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. HUDSON MAXIM. fitnessesz PHILIP MAURO, W. A. BARTLETT. 

